Lionel Fastrack

I do not like it either, the hollow road bed acts like a noise chamber and amplifies the track noise. So you spend even more time packing something inside the hollow area to dull this down.  I wish they would have brought back the original Super O from the postwar era.  Gargraves is nice and to me, classic tubular track with extra ties and ballest is great if your going for the classic Lionel layout look.  If you want more of a Hi Rail/scale look, go with either Gargraves or Atlas O.     Just my 2 cents worth.   Mike

If you like it thats all that matters.  You can ballast the edges a little and weather it and it looks darn good! As far as conductivity issues.  I don't trust any track system to maintain a good connection.  For any permanent layout you should solder each section together.  With fastrack it simple.  A wire from section to section for the hot and ground, and its all hidden in the roadbed...

It your layout, and you are using Fastrack currently with good results, so go with Fastrack!

IMO, for larger layouts it's either Atlas or Gargraves and Ross.

But I must admit Command Control FasTrack switches are the best thing since sliced bread. With next to no effort I can pull one out of the box, put it in the layout, program the switch and presto, I have a remote switch control in my hand.

As continually reported time after time, here on the OGR Forum, Fastrack is the noisiest track system available. 

Thanks to everyone for your advice!

Bobby Cox posted:

Fixing to start on new 15x40ft O guage layout. Talked with professional layout builder yesterday. Asked about using Fastrack. His reply was NO way!

He said lots of problems with connective between track sections, can't ballast, limited switch configurations, etc. he felt it was a very poor choice for a large layout.

Not true on the connectivity issues. Quite the contrary. Can ballast on the sides. Adds realism.  Turnout divergence angles are restricted

I currently have an 8x16' layout that is Fastrack. I love it. Have very few problems. The Command Control switches are great. Really like being able to activate switches using my Cab2 controller. Have ballasted a little Fastrack and it look pretty good.

Interested to know if anyone has used Fastrack with Command Control switches on a large layout and if so what your opinion is. The layout builder suggest Gargraves track and Ross switches.

Cost will be about the same. If you purchase the Ross ready switches with DZ-2500 switch machines you can control the switches with Legacy. using the DZ-1000 switch machines an SC-2 would work well to control the switches with Legacy.  They just worked out an LCS implementation issue at the Legacy Users group meeting at York this spring using the DZ-2500's.

Ideas please.

Choose the Gargraves/Ross track. it will help with the layout design for a more enjoyable result.

TIA, Bobby

I am a fan of FasTrack, but it has limitations.

 

Bobby Cox posted:

Fixing to start on new 15x40ft O guage layout. Talked with professional layout builder yesterday. Asked about using Fastrack. His reply was NO way!

He said lots of problems with connective between track sections, can't ballast, limited switch configurations, etc. he felt it was a very poor choice for a large layout.

I currently have an 8x16' layout that is Fastrack. I love it. Have very few problems. The Command Control switches are great. Really like being able to activate switches using my Cab2 controller. Have ballasted a little Fastrack and it look pretty good.

Interested to know if anyone has used Fastrack with Command Control switches on a large layout and if so what your opinion is. The layout builder suggest Gargraves track and Ross switches.

Ideas please.

TIA, Bobby

 

I have an 10' by 10' layout. I don't think by O standards that is considered "big".  I started with an MTH set, the Pennsy RS-3 freight train. The LHS was good enough, at my request, to swap in Fastrack for me in in lieu of MTH's track. It has been utterly reliable. I have had 5 switches and they have performed flawlessly. The only two negatives I can cite are that it is not the most realistic looking of track and without noise deadening insulation can tend to be loud. I DID insulate it so that problem is gone. As far as appearance I decided NOT to paint it or try to dress it up. I find the electrical connections to be just fine.....

I have 300 feet of Fastrack.  I really like it because my 10 cc switches are flawless.  I run at scale speeds and noise is not an issue to me.  Now if you are running 100 smph, it's gonna be noisy.  

I have been using Fastrak for about 14 years on a 24 x 14 layout.  The Detroit 3 Railers have layouts that have almost all track systems including a couple with tubular track.  No doubt, Fastrak is louder, but not to the point where you can't have conversations with one another.  Fastrak is highly reliable, but it does have it's limitations.  The CC switches are great, But I also need the switch controllers because of grandkids.  At a glance I know that if I see green on all the controllers, all the engines being run will stay on the mainline and not go crashing into a siding.

One thing I might add… Fastrack performs best on a soft base layer like a 1/2 pile carpet.  It has a tendency to settle down into the pile and quiet down.  This is vastly different than how you would lay Gargraves or Atlas track… with Homosote, foam and such.  If you attach FT to hard surfaces, it is loud… duh.  Any idiot can see why, but when mounted properly it's just as quiet as other systems.  

I have used Fastrack one time and was not that pleased with the results, so I traded it for an MTH engine at a train show.  I am staying with tubular track for much better performance and better switch choices, even using some Ross Custom switches.

Lee

     As others have stated,  Fastrack is much louder than other brands. I have used it for almost ten years and had very few issues. The switches have worked great and connectivity issues have been seldom. I soldered the problem pieces. Less than 5 pieces developed rust in a none climate controlled environment. My layout had over 600 feet of fastrack (  I started with it), but as I added more loops and extensions, I bought Atlas and Gargraves. With more than 20 engines running at once, noise was a factor. However,  I really liked the reliability of the switches and used 12 in a hidden staging yard with limited access (no issues).

     Our club, TTOS SP, uses Fastrack on portable modules and sometimes the pins need to be tightened due to constantly be taken apart and put together.

Bob

I have FT on my whole layout.  3 loops with 0-72 curves and about 9 switches.  No problems.  Drink some beers and you don't hear the noise.

Hot Water posted:

As continually reported time after time, here on the OGR Forum, Fastrack is the noisiest track system available. 

WELL ...You know what they say…If they hear it enough times they will start to believe it.15x 35 fast trak layout here.Heavy articulated Locos chuffing steam whistle 30 car consists 4 main lines… NOPE- I don't hear any track noise. Nick

Why is it that railfans accept the LOUD track noise of real railroads as "normal" yet some model RR hobbyists object to the track noise of Fastrack and other brands? My layout platform surfaces are made of hollow-core door panels covered with green "patio carpeting" - which provides some sound deadening and offers a textured surface.  Also, the fronts and backs of the door panels are separated by a void space with interior cardboard spacers for add'l deadening; i.e., not a solid surface like plywood, which can amplify sound like a drum head. IMHO, some track noise adds to realism.

One of the "benefits" of my hearing impairment is -- When I don't want to hear track noise from any brand of O-gauge track, I temporarily turn down the volume of my hearing aids! 

Mike M.   (ritrainguy)

Bobby

I have in excess of 300 feet, upper and lower levels.  Inked it, Stained it, glued  my favorite mixed color of ballast,  and happy happy happy.

Opinions are free, that's we we all have so many.

AS many on here will tell you, It's your rail road

Larry

I started out wanting Fastrack, even read a book about it. Then I heard a small layout and the track noise bothered me. I ended up with Atlas (solid rail and quiet) and I have been very happy with it. Some don't like Atlas track either and have had problems with it. I have had no problems with it and really like it. I also still like Fastrack too, I like the looks of it.

Since I have been reading the OGR forums many have said the Fastrack noise doesn't bother them at all. Many others have said that a layer of carpet, carpet pad, or possibly other similar materials make a world of difference. Some have even said both things here in this thread. 

Bottom line, also as others have said above, it's your layout and if you like Fastrack, are using it now and happy with it, I would say use it. I have seen quite a few posts around here over the last few years with folks using Fastrack that are happy with it. It's a personal choice too, gotta have what you like and are happy with!!  Good luck with whatever you choose.

Added: I just took a look, the track in Larry's picture above looks just as good as any track I have seen, IMO. 

Also remember that Magna-traction will not work on Atlas track as its non magnetic.  Atlas's track is also able to be used outdoors as well.  We each have our threshold for noise, mine is very low thanks to being on the spectrum.  So I run short durations or put on my headset and some music to listen to.  If I run a short train with my postwar F3's, thier drive train growl overrides any track noise.   Having a larger layout helps as well, as the sound can fade away as the train heads to the far side of the room.  Just as the real train noise rises and fades as the train passes.  I ran my 2333's for 1 hour straight today, postwar tubular track directly on plywood for the moment.  Wonderful sound but was all I could tollerate after an hour.  As I am doing a winter layout, I am thinking a grey carpet cut to shape and laid under the track to look like ballest, the table will be painted white.  Mike

Hot Water posted:

As continually reported time after time, here on the OGR Forum, Fastrack is the noisiest track system available. 

Typically, things reported time after time about Lionel on this Forum tend to negative.  

I have used Atlas track on my layout for the past 15 years.  Apart from the early (and well known) switch/turnout issues, it is a flawless track system.

HOWEVER, if I did not have the investment in that track, I would certainly use FASTRACK on the layout I am currently building.  The FasTrack layouts I've seen that are ballasted look extremely nice (above).  Those that have a good installation strategy (as mentioned above) are also pretty darned quiet.

My opinion is do what you want to do ... FasTrack is an excellent choice and will serve you well, IMO.

My FasTrack has had no problems for the 12 years I've used it, but my layout is only 5x8. Personally, I think it looks great. Sound-wise, real trains make noise on real track. 

How close together can FasTrack be placed? In a turnout or Wye scenario?

Ted, download the free trial of AnyRail and do some playing around with Fastrack and you can see how the spacing works.

How do you mean? Coming back to parallel? FasTrack is designed without making modifications on 6" centers.

The wye cuts it to 4.75" All O72

GRJ, I'll download "AnyRail" and play around, although I'm not real good with SCARM. 

Carl, Thx for the pic.  Yup, back to parallel.  Off hand, what's the clearance of the middle two tracks butted together?  Can trains pass as on a main or yard?

Ted, AnyRail has a very low learning curve, it's real easy to do basic track plans.

TedW posted:

GRJ, I'll download "AnyRail" and play around, although I'm not real good with SCARM. 

Carl, Thx for the pic.  Yup, back to parallel.  Off hand, what's the clearance of the middle two tracks butted together?  Can trains pass as on a main or yard?

Well, you can measure that from a piece of FasTrack - FasTrack roadbed is 3 1/4" wide - center rail to roadbed edge 1 5/8" - 3 1/4" would be the clearance

Most set yards at 4" - tighter on your own measurement of rolling stock.

The limitations of the FasTrack is the switch - They will only a provide arc angles for the divergence of 22.5°, 30°, and 33.75°. One cannot get a "flat"  mainline crossovers or create space efficient yard ladders and throats.

Then, even if you use O84 & O96 diameter curves, there is still the limitation of a maximum O72 switch.

One is always giving something up when designing a layout with those limitations on the issues of using the largest curves possible and the most efficient use of the space.

It's your railroad. I have designed large layouts using all brands of track. I want the owner to understand the design limitations beforehand. Some track elements just won't fit at times because of the angle limitations.